X-Men; The Last Stand

Having partially read tons of reviews, I was able to see one common thread. They all, good or bad, said that X-Men; The Last Stand could have been better. Now while I agree with that, it was not as lacking as they claimed. One comment I heard was that it lacked character. IT’S A MOVIE BASED ON A COMIC, NO ONE IS THERE FOR THE CHARACTERS! I could sit here and ramble about how the critics missed the point for pages, but that’s not why you opened this attachment. Here is the review.

“X-Men; The Last Stand” had been billed as the last of the X-Men franchise, and if it is, I’m sure fans will be satisfied. In this one, the humans have found a mutant named Leech (Cameron Bright,) whose power is that he can cause mutants to temporarily lose their powers. Using his mutated DNA, they manufacture a “cure” for mutation. They offer the cure for any mutant who wants it. The conflict grows from there. Magneto (Ian McKellen), a man who can manipulate metal is the head of the resistance. He claims that the humans not allow mutants to choose the cure and will force it on all mutants. He gathers a mutant army, including Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones,) a man, who once he gains momentum, can not be stopped by anything, and Callisto (Diana Ramierz,) who can move super fast and detect mutants around her. Magneto starts a war against the humans with the goal being the destruction of the cure and the capture of the mutant who is the source.

Then there is the X-Men. Lead by Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart,) a physic and head of a school for mutants. There are some new faces this time around including Beast, (Kelsey Grammar) a furry, blue mutant, (they don’t explain in the movie, but he was a scientist who was experimenting with mutation and ended up becoming a mutant,) Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page,) a girl who can walk through walls and Colossus (Daniel Cudmore,) who has the ability to make his skin steel. Back from the first two movies are Wolverine (Hugh Jackman,) with his ability to heal and steel claws and Storm (Halle Berry,) who has the ability to change the weather.

Mixed in all of this is the physic, Jean Grey, who “died” in the last movie. There is a focus on her back story. She comes back, this time as “Phoenix,” a dark and evil personality of hers. When Magneto gets her on his side, it is up to the X-Men to stop him. They battle is fought on Alcatraz Island, which has been transformed from prison to research facility for “the cure.” The X-Men join forces with the humans and fight Magneto’s Brotherhood.

As a fan of the first two, I loved this one as well. It was just what I was hoping for, minus a few things (if I were to say what those were, it would spoil the film.) Sure, it lacked what an Oscar worthy film would have, like character development, great dialogue, strong plot. It’s a comic book movie, the people who go to see it are not there for all those things. Heck, I went to see special effects, things blow up and people with cool powers fight. I will admit that it is not as good as the first two, but I was not disappointed. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I think many of the critics (at least the 52% who gave poor reviews according to rottentomatoes.com) missed the point of the movie. It’s not meant to be taken so seriously. It is, as I have said at least 3 times before, based on a comic and therefore must be seen as a movie based on a comic book and not a movie that is meant to move people.

7 out of 10

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence, some sexual content and language.

Mission: Impossible III

Hard to believe, but it has been ten years since the very first Mission: Impossible movie. This third installment, as the “III” in the title suggests, in the Mission: Impossible franchise and Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt. Hunt has retired from active duty to trains new agents. When one of his trainees, Lindsey, Keri Russell, is kidnapped while on a surveillance detail of and man named Owen Davian, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. In the process he discovers that Lindsey had information that reveals double agents within the agency. Through tough assignments, double crosses, and the kidnapping of his wife, Hunt must stop at nothing to bring Davian down once and for all.

Ignoring the fact that I think Tom Cruise is a complete nut case, I still think he is a good actor and always manages to make some interesting films. He does it again here. I’m a fan of the first Mission Impossible, and didn’t hate the second (which I guess is a complement,) so it was inevitable that I would see this one. It was a good movie, there was nothing special about it, nothing revolutionary in special effects, it was just a well done action flick.

The one performance I feel obligated to mention is Philip Seymour Hoffman. He was born and raised in Fairport NY, one of the suburbs of Rochester, went to high school around here and he won an Oscar for “Capote.” So around here, we have to gloat about him, he’s a great actor that is finally making it big. And it’s well deserved. In this movie, he plays one of the best bad guys I have ever seen. He is cold, calculating and most importantly unflappable. Nothing shakes him, not even being dangled out of a plane at 20,000 feet. Hoffman plays this character to perfection and pulls off a bad guy very well.

There have been three Mission Impossible movie, and three different directors who have brought three very different styles and stories. This time around it was directed and written by J.J Abrams (creator of the television shows Alias and Lost.) The defining feature of his television shows, not including the strange and unexpected twists, is Abrams ability to make these amazing characters and develop them so that the audience has a connection to them. He brings that to this movie. It’s easy to establish characters like Hunt, because they have already been established and we know what drives him. Julia, Hunts wife is where we see a great example of new character development. When she is kidnapped, the audience wants her to get rescued just as much as Ethan Hunt does.

If your up for a mindless, special effects laden movie with plenty of explosions and gun play, then go see this movie. You will not be disappointed that you had to pay $8.75 (my how times have changed) for a ticket.

7 out of 10

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of frenetic violence and menace, disturbing images and some sensuality.

The Sentinel

Last Monday of the school year. Just finished watching a new episode of “24.” Now what? Go for what I called “Jack Bauer Over Load.” We went to see “The Sentinel” The movie staring Kiefer Southerland as Jack Bauer…I mean David Breckinridge.

“The Sentinel” is about “Special Agent Pete Garrison is convinced that a Neo-Nazi Aryan Disciple has managed to infiltrate the White House. When a White House Agent is murdered, Garrison is framed and blackmailed over an affair with the First Lady Sarah Ballentine. He is relieved of his duties, but Garrison won't stop in trying to prove his innocence, and save the life of the President. While attempting to uncover the person behind it all, he comes into confrontation with his protege, Agent Breckinridge.” (took that from www.imdb.com)

There is really not much to say about this movie. It is just another thriller. There is explosions, gun fights, and some what predictable plot twists. When I went to this movie expecting to see a lot of “Jack Bauer,” but Keifer has a much smaller role in the movie then I thought. (Small side note 10:30 on a Monday night is a great time to go to a movie, we had the theater to ourselves for the first 20 min.) The movie did focus on Michael Douglas’s character Pete Garrison. He has been working for the secret service since Regan was president.

I can’t say I disliked the movie, I enjoyed it. It was a good way to spend an hour and a 40 minutes. I wish there were more to say, but there is nothing special about the movie. It is just your run of the mill thriller and is enjoyable enough that you find yourself getting involved in the plot and trying to figure out what will happen next.

5 out of 10

The Wild

Some quick background before I get into this one. It was Easter weekend at Buffalo State College. Almost all of my roommates had left for the weekend and my parents had decided to ditch me for Easter (no hard feelings mom and dad) I called a friend, also named Matt, and he came over. He said he wanted to go see a movie. We decided on The Wild. So Matt, Shaun (the only other one left in the suite) and I went to the Regal and soon discovered we were the oldest people not there supervising children.

The movie had a familiar plot line, father and son that don’t understand each other come to form a strong relationship through some hard ship. The father in this case is Samson, a lion, voiced by Kiefer Southerland, is the star attraction at the Bronx Zoo. He wants his son, Ryan, voiced by Greg Cipes, to have a roar like him and be a strong lion. After the zoo closes, all the animals gather for the turtle curling championship. Samson and his team, Benny the squirrel (voiced by Jim Belushi,) Nigel the koala (voiced by Eddie Izzard,) Bridget the giraffe (voiced by Jeneane Garofalo) and Lenny, the snake (voiced by Richard Kind) take on the penguins in the championship. Ryan and his friends ditch the game and go scare some gazelles, causing a stampede. The gazelles, spooked by the group, run through the game and cost Samson’s team the championship. Shamed and embarrassed, Ryan runs away. Samson and his friends go to find him. They search the streets of New York City and end up following him to the docks where they follow the boat he is on to Africa.

I’m not going to dwell on the performances because there is nothing note worthy.

The movie has it comedic moments and children will find in funnier then adults. There are all the things there that make it a kids movie. What they needed to do was make it more enjoyable for the parents, who go for their children not necessarily because they want to. Unless you happen to be 3 bored college students left alone on Easter weekend.

I have never seen Madagascar, but it did seem a lot like it. This is the one thing that people keep dwelling on. Yes, it is a re-telling of another story, but then again most movies these days are. There are very few movies that come out these days that are turely original.

The one thing that blew me away was the animation. It was the absolute best animation I have ever seen. If it were any better, it would have been real animals. I heard some critics say how the quality on the animation was almost too real and took away from the film. I whole heartedly disagree. It is a tribute to how far we have come with computer animation. The animation alone was worth the 6.50 I shelled out for the movie.

5 out of 10

Rated G

INSIDE MAN

The basic story behind Inside Man is this, Dalton Russell (Clive Owen),and his associates rob a bank and takes hostages. He deals with Detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington.) There are many twists and turns along the way that lead to the final twist at the end of the movie. Even with all the change up, false leads and things never being what they seem to be, the story still flows and unfolds in a coherent manner that keeps the viewer intrigued.

The film, directed by Spike Lee, is a departure from his other films. This crime caper is about, as Dalton describes it “the perfect robbery.” There are many shots in the film that look like something Lee would shoot; it doesn’t feel like a “Spike Lee Joint.” There is no deep meaning, or statement being made with this movie, it is, plain and simple a great popcorn flick. The audience doesn’t have to get too involved with alterative motives and characters; one can just be swept away by the story and attempting to figure out where it is going.

The acting is great; all involved did a great job. One performance that stood out was Jodie Foster, who played Madeline White. I’m still not sure what her job was, all I can understand is that she uses her connections to get people with bad connections things. (go see the movie and you’ll find out what that means.) She plays a real mean, and despicable person, her only motive is to keep those she is representing out of trouble and will bribe anyone she can to keep it that way.

Denzel Washington does a fantastic job, as usual, playing to cop trying to figure out what the bank robbers want and ultimately, the real story behind the robbery. There is really not much to be said that hasn’t been said about the acting ability of Denzel Washington, he has been nominated for a few and one an Oscar for his performances.

One actor that is just starting to make it big, is Chiwetel Ejiofor, (pronounced Chew-eh-tel Edge-if-or.) His latest roles are The Operative in Serenity, and a cross dressing man in the recently released Kinky Boots. His role in this film is Detective Bill Mitchell. He is Detective Frazier’s partner. He helps Frazier interrogate the suspects and question other people of interest. Ejiofor is a great actor and it looks like he may have a long career ahead of him.

Incase you need any more convincing I will leave you with Dalton’s opeaning lines. “My name is Dalton Russell, pay strict attention to what I say because I choose my words carefully and never repeat myself. I told you my name, that's the who. The where can most readily be described as a prison cell. But there is a vast difference from being stuck in a tiny cell and being in prison. The What is easy, recently I planned and set in motion a manse to execute the perfect bank robbery, that's also the When. As for the why, beyond the obvious financial motivation, it's exceedingly simple...because I can. Which leaves us only with the How, and therein, as the bard tells us, lies the rub.”

9 out of 10

Rated R for language and some violent images.

Verbose V and his “Vendetta”

By; Matt Levy

As most do when they visit sunny Florida on spring break, I went to a movie. I was able to get my Dad and Grandfather to go see V for Vendetta (couldn’t get Grandma to come.) There are a lot of political issues surrounding this film, but to truly enjoy it, one must put all political affiliations and feelings toward the current state of our government aside, and see it for what it is, a movie. The film, directed by the Wachowski Brothers, takes a look at a future that is dark and one where the people live in fear of their government.

V for Vendetta, based on the graphic novel, is set in a futuristic England. The totalitarian government controls the people and the media that tells the people what to think. While the rest of the world is in chaos, some virus has all but wiped out the United States and many others are in the middle of civil wars, England thrives and is one of the few countries with power. V, played by Hugo Weaving, is the one who opposes the government and their actions. He has plans not to overthrow the government, but show the people the atrocities committed by their elected officials. Evey, played by Natalie Portman, works for what appears to be the one and only television station in England. She is attacked one night by police officers, but is rescued by V. He takes her back to his underground lair where she becomes as wanted as V and gets caught up in his crusade. When she is eventually captured, she refuses to give up the location of V and pays for it with her hair. Even though she was tortured and starved she still refuses. That is all I can say without revealing key plot points.

This movie is very well done, and gave a look at what happens when the ones in power, abuse it. The dark look of the city reflects the oppressive government and the secrets it wants to keep hidden. There are no strange futuristic elements in the movie; it keeps the future looking much like the present. The graphic novel written in 1988, takes place in 1994. The best guess is that the film version takes places in the very near future.

The best acting is done by Weaving, who spent the entire movie behind a Guy Fawkes mask. WARNING: Educational Content to Follow. Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the English Parliament building in the 17^th century. That is where V gets the rhyme “Remember, remember the 5^th of November…” Fawkes had many of the same beliefs that V does; he felt the government was corrupt and needed to change. He was caught before he could go through with the plan.

The very poetical V, (I had no idea how many words began with the letter v) is always quoting Shakespeare, or waxing poetic about the injustices of the government. Of all the actors in the film Weaving had the hardest job, to show emotion from behind a mask is an incredible feat. The actor who played V originally left for reasons that have not been given to the public. I think that Weaving did a better job than anyone could have. The little emotion that V does show comes through the smiling mask and we can hear the emotion in his voice.

While I like Natalie Portman overall and I think she did a good job in this film, I was unimpressed with the performance. I think it was the accent; the British accent is really not the best I have ever heard. Though it was better then Kevin Costner in Robin Hood; Prince of Thieves. Of course that’s not saying much. There are times it seemed forced and distracted from what should have been intense and emotional scenes.

One thing that surprised me was that the action was less then I had expected. The focus was more on the story line then the violence and blood. While there are some great action scenes, what do you expect from the guys that gave us The Matrix, they are not what the film is based upon. Much of the film is guaranteed to spark discussion on the nature of terrorism. Is it necessary when a government abuses its power? Is it wrong to seek change through violence? These are some of the questions that surface when one watches the movie and are the reason this film generated so much buzz.

V for Vendetta

As we all do when we visit sunny Florida, I went to a movie. My Dad grandpa and I went to see V for Vendetta (couldn’t drag Grandma to it.) V for Vendetta, based on the graphic novel, is about a futuristic England. There is a totalitarian government that controls the people and the media that tells the people what to think. V (played by Hugo Weaving) is the one who opposes the government and their actions. Evey (played by Natalie Portman) gets rescued by V one night and he takes her back to his home. (an underground lair.) She becomes as wanted as V and gets caught up in his crusade. When captured she refuses to give up the location of V and pays for it with her hair. Even though she was tortured and starved she still refuses. I can’t really tell much more of the plot without giving away some key things, so I end there.

I liked the movie a lot. I thought it was very well done. The dark look of a the city reflects the oppressive government (and a little noir-ish. In noir the city/street is presented as dark and people are rarely seen.) The best acting is done by Weaving, who’s face you never see. The acting is done behind a Guy Fawkes mask (he attempted to blow up the Parliament in the 17^th century.) The very poetical “V” (I had no idea how many words began with v) is always quoting Shakespeare, or waxing poetic about the atrocities of the government. Of all the actors in the film Weaving had the hardest job, to show emotion from behind a mask is an incredible feat. The actor who played V before left, for reason unknown to me and I think Weaving did a better job then anyone could have. While I like Natalie Portman overall, she did a good job, but I was unimpressed with the performance in this film. I think it was the accent; the British accent is really not the best I have ever heard. One thing that surprised me was that the action was less then I had expected. The focus was more on the story line then the violence and blood. So overall, I liked the film and recommend it to anyone old enough to see it (it is rated R), it is the type of film that can spark conversation on the nature of terrorism.

8 out of 10

Walk the Line.

I know it’s not a new movie, and I know it just came out on DVD. That’s what sparked this, I got Walk the Line on DVD today and watched it. I have been waiting to do this since I left the theater after watching it the first time. It is an amazing movie.

The movie starts off just before Johnny Cash (played to perfection by Joaquin Phoenix) goes on stage for his famous concert at Folsom prison. It is after a brief look at Cash that the movie flashes back to his childhood and the beginnings of his career. We see Cash audition for Sam Phillips, and fail at first. Phillips tells him to play “one song to tell God of what you thought of your time on this Earth” and Cash responds with Folsom Prison Blues.

The two performances of note are Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon (June Cater Cash.) It has been reported that Cash himself choose Phoenix for the role (talk about pressure) Witherspoon is given a chance to show her ‘chops’ as an actress. Her previous roles have had none of the challenge of this one. She is up for an Oscar and she should win.

More then music, this is a story about redemption. Cash hit a low point when his drug habit got really bad. It was only through the love of June that he was able to kick the habit and get clean. It was because of her and the strength she gave him, he was able to get back on top again.

The movie ends of a high note, months after the Folsom prison concert. After multiple times, Cash asks June one last time to merry him, live on stage. “I’ve asked you 40 different times and 40 different ways. It’s time for you to come up with a new answer” he says. As we all know, she said yes and they stayed married until the 2 died in 2003 (John 4 months after June).

This is a fantastic movie and is easily one of my favorites of all time. The music, the performances and the over all story are amazing and is sure to win a few Oscars this Sunday.

PG-13 for some language, thematic material and depiction of drug dependency.

King Kong: January 5^th 2006

Wow. That was all I could think when I left the theater after seeing King Kong. The film, directed by Peter Jackson (The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy) lives up to it’s name. Set during the Depression, the story revolves around Carl Denham (Jack Black,) a washed up movie director, whom in a last desperate attempt to make another movie, dupes his crew in to sailing off to the mysterious Skull Island to shoot a movie. Among the crew and actors he brings with him are the lovely struggling actress, Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) and writer Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody.) While there they stumble upon a tribe of the islands natives, who late at night sneak upon the ship and kidnap Ann and offer her to Kong. Jack and Carl lead an expedition into the jungle to get her back from the giant ape. What they discover is that Kong is not the only creature to inhabit the jungle, it is also home to dinosaurs and giant bugs.

The trouble really starts when Kong is brought back to the urban jungle of New York. During a performance based around the capture of Kong, he escapes and runs loose in the city. It is only Ann who is able to slake the beast’s rage and bring him to a calm just in time for the army to attack. What follows is a chase through the city ending up at…you guessed it, the Empire State Building.

This was one of the most well done films I have had the pleasure of seeing. Jackson, who was inspired to do film after seeing the original, shows the audience his passion for the art of film in every aspect of this movie. The shots, the acting, the sets, even the CG shots show an amazing attention to detail. This is the film that Jackson wanted to make years ago, but Universal pulled the plug when Godzilla and Mighty Joe Young were released. Jackson went on to make The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and because of the success of those movies, he was finally able to make King Kong.

At first I felt that Jack Black was an unusual cast. He is know more for his comedic acting and less for the dramatic. This role let him play a little of both. He did a very good job with the dramatic scenes, this movie will help him step out and be able to stretch more as an actor. Watts gives one of her best performances as Ann. Acting with a green screen is not easy and she pulls it off. To show such emotion and give such a powerful performance is extraordinary. One actor you won’t hear much about is Kyle Chandler, he plays Bruce Baxter, the actor picked as the hero of Carl’s film. A few may recognize him from his work on Early Edition, a show that aired in the mid-90’s. He was really good in this role and it is a wonder he is not in bigger budget films like this one.

There is one performance that blew me away. It was the performance by Kong. The digital shots in this movie were incredible. The detail in the facial expressions of Kong made for some of the most touching scenes in the film. He pain in his face when he is shot, the joy we see when Ann performs for him, all make him seem real. It helps add dimension to a digital character, which is something that is hard to do. Andy Serkis, who also plays the cook on the ship, was the one who gave like to Kong. Just as he did in Lord of the Rings as Gollum, he gave life to the beast both in movement and the face. Serkis gives the best performance in the film with out appearing on screen. Some scenes that had the chance to be cheesy, such as when Ann performs, are made real and heart ranching, by the “acting” of Kong.

The special effects were amazing. They are some of the best ever put on film and are not used to overshadow the story (cough…War of the Worlds…cough.) Ranging from the landscape of Shull Island, 1930’s New York City and even the big ape himself, the effects do not disappoint. The attention to detail in every digital aspect is amazing, the kind we have come to expect form WETA, the special effects masters who worked with Jackson on the Lord of the Rings.

Overall it was an amazing movie and might even get a few Oscar nods. The movie is so good looking and so well done that you can’t help but love it. You are destined to feel for Kong and come to despise the greedy Carl. King Kong is a great movie that everyone should see.

MATT’S RATING: 10